Mexico Frogs
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SAVE THE FROGS! in Mexico - November 2012
Photos of Mexican Amphibians
Other Save The Frogs Events
Introduction
Mexico is one of the 17 megadiverse countries, occupying fifth place among the richest countries in amphibian fauna with around 373 described species. Of these, 249 (66%) are endemic, living only in Mexico. 58% of the total species protected either nationally or internationally. Among the principal threats to the Mexican amphibians are habitat loss, contamination, infectious diseases, overharvesting for pet trade and global changes. Another threat to the Mexican amphibians is the lack of education about amphibians in the general public, as well as a lack of information on their ecology and conservation status. We can't protect what we don't know; so our mission is to increase the knowledge of Mexican amphibians by generating scientific information and by spreading the knowledge to all people about what amphibians are and why they are important for us. To change this inertia, SAVE THE FROGS! along with Mexican researchers and agencies are working on projects to generate information on Mexican amphibians and strategies to prevent their decline and extinction.
SAVE THE FROGS! in Mexico - November 2012
SAVE THE FROGS! Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger spent the eight days in Chiapas, Mexico meeting with amphibian biologists and politicians and introducing them to SAVE THE FROGS!. The Mexicans were extremely interested in our work and we expect a lot of Save The Frogs Day activity in Mexico this year! Gracias to ZooMat and the Municipality of Berriozabal for sponsoring Dr. Kriger's trip to Mexico. Gracias to Victor Luja, Luis Canseco and Berenice Garcia for all their help putting the trip together. And gracias to all the Mexican biologists for their enthusiasm!
Free mp3 of Dr. Kriger's presentation to the Mexican Society of Herpetologists
Download the free mp3 of Dr. Kriger's 45 minute presentation to 200 scientists at the biennial conference of the Mexican Society of Herpetologists (Sociedad Herpetologica Mexicana) in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. There were many undergraduates, graduate researchers and professors in attendance, and they were extremely excited about SAVE THE FROGS -- after the talk Dr. Kriger signed autographs and took photos with our new fans for 45 minutes!
"Ola me gusto mucho tu presentacion que diste aqui en Chiapas en el Congreso de Herpetologia. Saludos!"
-- Biologist Kymberli Rodriguez
AWARDED: Distinguished Citizen of Berriozabal, Chiapas
While in Mexico, Dr. Kriger met the Mayor of Berriozabal, a small city with a large appreciation for amphibians. The Mayor awarded Dr. Kriger "Distinguished Citizen" of the town and Dr. Kriger gave a speech to 200 kids who awaited him in the town hall with frog posters. In April 2012 the town held Save The Frogs Day events during Mexico's concurrent Amphibians Week, and we can expect a lot more activity in coming years. Berriozabal is adjacent to the Reserva La Pera, important amphibian habitat.
These undergraduates from UNICACH took Dr. Kriger out looking for frogs near Berriozabal:
Thanks to Luis Oliver, the first biologist to ever take Dr. Kriger looking for frogs! In early 2003, the two went into the desert outside of Zapotitlan de Salinas, Puebla to look for tadpoles of Hyla arenicolor. It was great to reconnect at the conference!
Photos of Amphibians of Mexico
Craugastor occidentalis - Coastal barking frog
This is an endemic species that is known from scattered localities in western Mexico in the states of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco and Michoacan. There is no direct information on the habitat and ecology of this species, although it is likely to be associated with semi-deciduous forest. It presumably breeds by direct development.
Craugastor rodophis- Chiapas
This frog was near Berriozabal, Reserva la Pera, Chiapas. 
Duellmanohyla chamulae
This frog was near Berriozabal, Reserva la Pera, Chiapas. If you know what species this is, please contact us.
Ecnomiohyla miotympanum – Small-eared treefrog
This species is known from the Atlantic slopes of the Sierra Madre Oriental from central Nuevo Leon to central Veracruz, Mexico. Other populations occur in southern Veracruz, north-central Oaxaca and northern Chiapas. It inhabits cloud forest, and is frequently associated with bromeliads or elephant-ear plants. It can sometimes be found on the ground, in bushes, or on small plants. It is a stream-breeding amphibian. A major threat to this species is habitat loss and degradation arising from agricultural development and logging. IUCN: near threatened (NT); population trend: decreasing.
This frog was near Berriozabal, Reserva la Pera, Chiapas:
Hyla eximia – Mountain treefrog
This Mexican endemic species occurs in the Sierra Madre Occidental from southern Durango and the Sierra Madre Oriental from southwestern Tamaulipas southward to the Cordillera Volcánica and the Sierra Madre del Sur in Guerrero, Mexico. It is found at elevations of about 910-2,900m. It is found in mesquite-grassland, scrub forests and pine-oak forest. It has been recorded in bromeliads on pine trees. It breeds in shallow pools, ponds, and slow moving streams. Egg masses are laid in loose clumps attached to vegetation in shallow water. There are no known threats to this species.
Pseudacris hypochondriaca curta – Baja California treefrog
This Mexican endemic subspecies is known from the middle of the Baja California Peninsula south to the Cape region. This species occurs only in the isolated desert oases and mountain arroyos of the state of Baja California Sur. It breeds on sallow ponds. The major threats are the overexploitation of freshwater sources and the introduction of aquatic exotic species (bullfrog, tilapia, crayfish).
Smilisca baudinii
This frog was near Berriozabal, Reserva la Pera, Chiapas.
Other Save The Frogs Events
Baja California Sur - 2011 Save the Frogs Day
Conference: Amphibians of Baja: Do you know them? Baja, in northwestern Mexico, is almost totally a desert. Nevertheless, some surprising amphibians have adapted to the hostile conditions of water scarcity and extreme temperatures. Few people know them, and few people know the threats that these unique animals face: habitat destruction, exotic species, and infectious diseases. This conference and photographic exhibition was held on Save The Frogs Day Friday April 29, 2011 at 17:00 in Centro Cultural La Paz, at La Paz, BCS. Mexico. Featured presentation and photographs by SAVE THE FROGS! Advisory Committee Member Dr. Victor H. Luja, a local expert in amphibians of Baja.
Chiapas - 2012 Leap Day
With the objective of spreading the relevance of amphibian conservation, visitors of the Chiapas' regional zoo "Miguel Álvarez del Toro" (ZooMAT), in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico celebrated the Leap Day 2012. Among the activities, Biol. Jerónimo Domínguez Laso (Director ZooMAT) and Biol. Mayra Alonso Ramos gave an introductory talk to 100 kids and adults about amphibians and why to conserve them. A photographic collection "Anfibios Mexicanos" was on display.
Chiapas - 2012 1st Amphibian National Meeting
In April 2012, scientists, teachers and students meet in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico in the first National Meeting of Amphibians. During two days they were presented papers on ecology, management and amphibian conservation. SAVE THE FROGS! Advisory Committee Member Dr. Victor Luja participated with the work Save The Frogs! Translating Science Into Action, helping to spread the message and work of Save the Frogs to the Mexican community. Dr. Luja also participate in the 2nd photographic collection of Mexican Amphibians.
Estado de Mexico
SAVE THE FROGS! Advisory Committee Member Dr. Victor Luja at a breeding pond of Spea multiplicata and Hyla arenicolor threatened by urbanization. Sierra de Guadalupe, Estado de Mexico.
Baja California Sur
A ranchero of an isolated community called Las Animas in the Baja California Sur desert that helped SAVE THE FROGS! Advisory Committee Member Dr. Victor Luja catch some frogs for chytrid sampling:
Arte de Chiapas
Mexican Street Art, Tuxtla Gutierrez:
Tepic, Nayarit
Los integrantes del Voluntariado Ambiental Turístico tuvieron la iniciativa de conformar "LAS ECORANAS" durante los eventos de la semana cultural de la Unidad Académica de Turismo (18 Abril 2013). ¡Gracias por su entusiasmo muchachos! 
On March 21, 2013, SAVE THE FROGS! Advisory Committee Member Dr. Victor H. Luja gave a presentation to the group: "Voluntariado Ambiental Turístico" coordinated by Professor Rafael Gutierrez of the Universidad Autonoma de Nayarit. The event was held in SECTUR (Secrataría de Turismo) offices in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. 30 people attended the talk with great interest to replicate it around the region.
Please post this flyer at your school!
And send it to the teachers you know...right-click to download the PDF.
"Cuando salvamos las ranas, estamos protegiendo toda nuestra fauna, nuestros ecosistemas y los seres humanos."
--
Dr. Kerry Kriger
Thanks to the Body Shop Foundation
Many thanks to the Body Shop Foundation for donating $800 to support our efforts in Mexico!
Website design, photos & content by Kerry Kriger unless otherwise noted.
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Mexico Frogs